Pappas continues to inspire Hawks

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Troy Pappas always played for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.

A three-sport athlete at Marshwood High School, he was all about the team. Now the team is all about him.

Pappas died last October from injuries suffered in a fall at Bates College where he was a freshman receiver on the football team.

The Marshwood baseball team is honoring his memory this season.

“Troy was a person that everyone wanted to be like,” catcher Matt Brenner said after the Hawks’ 12-2 win Saturday over Sanford. “He did everything out of the ordinary. He had every teammate’s back. He went 100 percent. He went all out. He’s the most selfless person I know. He always put the team first and he always came second. He’s my best friend. To have him gone is a major devastation. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that.”

The reminders are everywhere. Pappas’s No. 7 is painted on the grass in right field. Players wear purple T-shirts with his name on the back. His number is stitched on the side of their caps.

There’s also a banner near the Hawks’ dugout with Pappas’s number, initials and nickname Pappi underneath.

“Troy was close to a lot of these guys,” said John Pappas, Troy’s dad. “It is good. It’s a little hard sometimes to come here. I think this is my fourth game that I’ve been to. It’s not easy. But I am really proud of what they’re doing and it is pretty special to our family.”

A framed jersey No. 7 is awarded to a Marshwood player after every game.

“It’s so special,” said pitcher/outfielder Alex McLean. “You want to play like Troy all the time. He’s one of those kids we all looked up to. He played hard every single day. No matter what happened he was all in, and that’s our motto.”

The award doesn’t necessarily go to the player who has the best game, but to the one who best exemplifies what Pappas stood for.

“It’s not the person who went 3 for 3 or who threw out three kids, it’s the person who played most like Troy,” Brenner said. “It’s the person who put all their heart into that game and played with pride. That’s how Troy played every game. Whether he was the best player or the worst player that day on the field he was always working harder than anyone else.”

“The player of the game who shows the Troy in him gets the jersey at the end of the game,” said shortstop Max McCoomb. “It’s so special. We bring it home with us and we bring it to each game. It really helps us remember Troy and what he was all about.”

Zach Quintal won the award Saturday. Brenner won it earlier in the season for his effort in a game against Westbrook.

“It was the most special thing ever just holding that jersey up and having the kids hold me up after the game to show all the parents on the sideline,” Brenner said. “It’s an honor. I feel like he’s always with me and I miss him dearly.”

“He’s given us so much motivation,” McLean said. “We’re always jacked to play the games. He keeps us going. We miss him a lot.”

Outfielder Robert Jones won the award after the Hawks only loss of the season against Thornton Academy.

“Robert struggled,” said Marshwood coach Eric Fernandes. “Next inning he got a base hit and drove a run in and then fought on the mound for five innings. And that was what Troy was about. He was about running a ground ball out to the pitcher as hard as he could to first base and making no excuses.”

Jones wore Pappas’s No. 23 during basketball season. He was planning to visit Pappas at Bates until the accident.

Jones pitches and plays right field as did Pappas.

“He was upbeat all the time,” Jones said. “Whenever you were around him he just made you feel good. It definitely means a lot to play right field like he used to do every single day.”

Pappas played baseball, basketball and football at Marshwood and captained all three sports. He was also an honor roll student who graduated in the top 10 of his class.

“When it comes to sports Troy was about the team,” John Pappas said. “He didn’t care to get any glory of his own. All he cared about was that the team won the game.”

Troy Pappas set a good example for the teammates and classmates he left behind.

“I think we took all the emotions that came with the tragedy and we’re using it as motivation to get our work done on the field,” Brenner said. “It’s almost like we have an advantage that we 10 players on the field. We know he’s got us all the way. He’s looking down on us.”

“I believe he’s watching over us every single day,” McCoomb said.

With Saturday’s victory, Marshwood improved to 11-1.

“We have a good team and a good vibe going,” McLean said, “and he’s at the center of it. We’re always about Troy. We’re always doing it for him. He’s our inspiration.”